Considering our recent posts you might be thinking that Trailspotting has retired to the Hawaii. Well, rest assured, we're back on Northern California soil and only this weekend we were back on the trail with hiking boots strapped to our feet.

We've just finished a new hike in Pinnacles National Monument, plus we're working on a feature on Lassen Volcanic National Park. There are also plenty more Bay Area and Tahoe hikes to come, along with many more trails.

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Originally a small aside to our Northern California exploits, our hiking trails of Hawaii have become a popular feature of Trailspotting.

Every trail you find on Trailspotting has been hiked, charted and photographed by us, which is how we can provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive information possible. After returning from our recent trip to Maui, we're now proud to be able to boast about our coverage of three major islands in the Hawaiian chain.

Use our interactive Google Map above to explore some of the best hiking trails on the Aloha isles, select the trail of your choice and click through for detailed information on each hike.

- Try a larger map if you're feeling a little cramped.
- Use Google Earth for the 3D map.

Rating:
Area: Hawaii - Maui
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Medium

[Out of Bounds] We occasionally expand our boundaries to feature a great hike beyond Northern California. Normal service will be resumed shortly, but if you'd like to see only local hikes, just click on the gray "Northern California" button to the right.

Explore cinder cones and lava flows in the desolate basin of Maui's Haleakala, possibly the largest dormant volcano on the planet.

Formed by erosion rather than volcanic activity, the valley at the summit of Haleakala boasts much to marvel at, and the packed cinder and soil underfoot makes for a relatively easy hike. Here you'll find the silversword, an endangered plant found nowhere else on Earth with an alien appearance that compounds the other-worldly appearance of this remote location.

Ascending and looping up the mountain, the road to Haleakala National Park is equally spectacular, climbing through the clouds to the summit. Watch out for tour groups of cyclists on this road who freewheel down the mountain. These popular tours begin in the early hours of the morning so they can witness the sunrise over the island from the summit before they begin their two-wheeled kamikaze return back down the volcano.

A fee is required to enter Haleakala National Park. However, since the visitors permit is valid for several days and the park stretches all the way to Oheo Gulch by the ocean, you can follow up this hike with a trip to the Pipiwai Waterfalls Trail on the same pass.

Alternate Routes:
The Haleakala basin is enormous and there are several longer trails to be tackled if you're feeling adventurous. The 11 mile Halemau'u to Sliding Sands trail is a great longer alternative day-hike. To tackle this alternate trail we recommend parking at the Halemau'u trailhead and hitching a ride to the summit before starting your hike. This way, most of your 3,000ft elevation change is downhill and your car is already and waiting for you at your journey's end.

Tangents:
- More trail photos by people on Flickr*
- Haleakala National Park
- All Hawaii on Trailspotting
- Find this hike in "Lonely Planet Hiking in Hawaii" book
* add your flickr photos to the Trailspotting gallery with the tag trailspottinghaleakala

Rating:
Area: Hawaii - Maui
Distance: 4½ miles
Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation gain: 1,560ft (from 1,000 – 2,560ft)

[Out of Bounds] We occasionally expand our boundaries to feature a great hike beyond Northern California. Normal service will be resumed shortly, but if you'd like to see only local hikes, just click on the gray "Northern California" button to the right.

Ascend the Waihee ridgeline trail up Maui's western peak of Pu'u Kukui and you'll be hiking above the sightseeing helicopter tours, and admiring the lush rainforest valleys and coastlines beyond.

Hiking on the windward side of any Hawaiian island means wet weather, muddy conditions and the threat of heavy rains. This trail is subject to all these factors, but the wet weather means waterfalls are plentiful, the vegetation is greener and the cooler conditions make for a nice comfortable hike.

To reach the trail follow highway 340 to the 6 mile marker, then look for the left turn marked with this signpost. The trailhead is located a little way up this one-track road.

Tangents:
- All Hawaii on Trailspotting
- Find this hike in "Lonely Planet Hiking in Hawaii" book
* add your flickr photos to the Trailspotting gallery with the tag trailspottingwaihee